Competition for New Guggenheim Helsinki

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum | Photo: David Heald © Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, New York

With launch events on June 4 and 5 in Helsinki and Venice, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation has formally called for entries to begin its open, international architectural competition for the design of a proposed Guggenheim museum in Helsinki. The keenly anticipated two-stage competition is expected to draw submissions from a wide range of firms and individuals - emerging and internationally famous - from Finland and around the world.

This is the first time that the Guggenheim Foundation, long recognized for commissioning transformational works of architecture, has sought a design through an open competition. It is embarking on this new course in one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in Europe, located at the intersection of East and West and respected internationally for its heritage of modern architecture and design. The firm or team selected through this competition will take its place in the lineage of both Helsinki, as exemplified by renowned architects such as Alvar Aalto and Eliel Saarinen, and of the Guggenheim, with its landmark buildings by Frank Lloyd Wright and Frank Gehry and first-of-its-kind carbon-fiber structure by Atelier Bow-Wow created for the BMW Guggenheim Lab.

More than seven hundred inquiries about participation have been received from people around the world even before the official start of the competition. 

Richard Armstrong, Director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, announced details of the competition process at a media conference held yesterday at Helsinki’s Restaurant Palace, and today will introduce the competition to the international architectural community gathered for the 14th International Architecture Biennale, hosting a reception today, June 5, at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice.

“It is essential to the Guggenheim’s mission to engage directly with people throughout the world, to affirm the transformative potential of art, and to fuse the experience of contemporary art with great architecture,” Mr. Armstrong stated. “This competition advances all of those goals, with the aim of inspiring an exemplary museum of the twenty-first century that is also a meaningful addition to the landscape of Helsinki.”

Waterfront view including the competition site from the Market Square, looking south | Photo: Tuomas Uusheimo

Competition site from Market Square, looking south | Photo: Tuomas Uusheimo

Competition site from Tähtitornin vuori park, looking northeast | Photo: Tuomas Uusheimo

Elevated view of the competition site from Restaurant Palace building, looking southeast | Photo: Tuomas Uusheimo

Anonymous submissions for Stage One of the competition are due September 10, 2014. The jury will meet in Helsinki and select six finalists from the submissions made during Stage One. Submissions will be judged on the basis of their architectural design, relationship to the site and the cityscape, practicality for users, sustainability (including criteria for the use of materials), and feasibility. An online exhibition will enable the public to view all entries in the first stage, with special prominence given to the 30 highest-rated submissions.

In November 2014, the Guggenheim will announce the finalists and Stage Two of the competition will begin. Shortlisted firms or individuals will have until March 2015 to make final submissions, and the winner will be announced in June 2015. The City of Helsinki and the State of Finland are expected to deliberate on whether to proceed with the construction and development of the museum after the competition concludes.

For further information visit the competition website: designguggenheimhelsinki.org